Close fitting, insulating, watertight underwear



July 21, 1942. E. c. CRAIG EFAL CLOSE FITTING, INSULATING, WATER-TIGHTUNDERWEAR Filed Feb. 17, 1941 INVENTORS E. C. C ra/g BY G. WLeyo/eAl'ORNEY raienied'iul' 21, 1942 CLOSE FITTING, INSULATING, WATER- TIGHTUNDERWEAR Edward 0. Craig, United States Navy, and ulen W.Leyde,.Arlington, Va.

Application February 17, 1941, Serial No. 379,369

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370O. G. 757) 2Claims.

This invention relates to a close fitting insulating and water-tightunderwear and has for an object to provide underwear especially intendedfor use by divers, either when diving in cold water or when using oxygenand helium mixtures.

One great problem confronting all divers is the rapid loss of body heatwhile under water, resulting in rapid loss of strength and fatigue. Thisis especially true when diving in cold water. This same feature is alsotrue when using an atmosphere of oxygen and helium, in order to avoidbends, that is, nitrogen dissolving in the blood when under highpressure and causing severe injury when the pressure is reduced." It hasbeen found that such a mixture of helium and oxygen permeating throughthe ordinary under- With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Figure l an elevational partly broken-away view of the diving underwear;and

Figure 2 is a sectional View on line 22 of Figure l.

The suit of underwear Ill of this invention comprises a close fittingsuit of underwear made of a plurality, of vertically extending sectionsH of expander cellular rubber. These sections are suitably securedtogether from the back of the neck to the crotch and from the bottom ofthe armholes to opposite the crotch by strips l2 vulcanized thereto. Theinner edges of the sections ll. below the crotch are likewise securedtogether by vulcanized strips l3 extending'from the crotch to the ankle.Sleeves M are made of a similar section of material having its jointssecured by a vulcanizing strip I5 and are in turn secured at thearmholes of the trunk by a vulcanizing strip It; An outer covering, suchas knitted material, is secured about the expanded cellular wear of thediver robs him of body heat at edges of the legs down to the ankles. Thelegs and sleeves each terminate in knitted anklets 2| and wristlets 22,while snap straps 23 extend under the arch of the wearer's suit.

Beneath the separable fasteners ii and i8,

the expanded cellular rubber sections it are provided with overlaps 26so that when the fasteners I7 and it are extended to closing position,they press the overlaps 24 against each other to make a substantiallyair-tight, snug-fitting joint against the body of the wearer, it beingnoted that the separable fastener it extends tight under the chin.

The water-=tightness and air-tightness of the suit as thus worn protectsthe wearer against loss of body heat to the cold of the surroundingwater or the heat-robbing characteristics of the helium atmosphere, aswell as from any a moisture that may be present within this diving suit.

Other modifications and changes in the proportions and arrangements ofthe parts may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing fromthe nature of the invention, within the scope of what is hereinafterclaimed.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for theGovernment of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout. the payment of any royalties 3o thereon or therefor.

rubber lining H and is provided with a separable I fastener ll extendingupwardly from the crotch to the neck and withseparable fasteners l8 ex-Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. Close fitting insulating and water-tight underwear comprising, aplurality of vertically extending sections, all joined and overlapped,of

soft, waterproof and impermeable material, said sections being ofexpanded cellular rubber having vulcanizing strips securing theirpermanent joints together, an outer cloth covering fitted about saidcellular expanded rubber sections, and fastening means on said outercovering for holding said cellular expanded rubber sections inimpermeable contact against the wearer.

2. A close fitting insulating and water-tight suit of underwear having atrunk, a neck at the upper end of the trunk, legs depending from thetrunk and terminating in ankle sections, and a crotch between the legsat the bottom of the trunk, said underwear suit comprising, a pluralityof vertically extending sections, of soft, waterproof and impermeablematerial, said sections being of expanded cellular rubber havingvulcanizing strips securing their permanent joints together, an outercloth covering fitted about said tendi g fr pp h crotch 7 8 th utercellular expanded rubber sections, fastening means on said outer stripfor holding said cellular suit, said inner cellular rubber sectionsbeing proexpanded rubber sections in impermeable contact vided withoverlaps beneath'each separable tasagainst the wearer, said fasteningmeans 'com- .tener to provide an impermeable joint against the prisinga, separable fastener extending from the body of the wearer when theseparable fasteners crotch up the front of the trunk of the suit to the5 are in closed position.

neck and separable fasteners extending from op- EDWARD C. CRAIG. positethe crotch to the ankle of the legs of the GLEN W. LEYDE.

